Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~oo~z~
D 8214
AUTO~ATIC CLEANER FOR TO_ILETS
BACXGROUND
1.0 Field Of The Invention:
The field of the present invention relates generally to
toilet cleaners, and more particularly to an automatic cleaner
for toilets comprising a container with a lateral opening to
accommodate a solid toilet cleanser which dissolves in water to
form an active-substance concentrate.
2.0 Discussion of Related Art:
A plastic container for a disinfectant and/or cleanser to
be fitted into the water tank of a 'oilet is described in
German DE-OS 2,830,965. This known automatic toilet cleaner
consists of a plastics material having a specific gravity
greater than one, and is intended to remain on the bottom of
the filled water tank unkil its contents have been used up.
The plastics container of this known automatic toilet cleaner
consists of a lower part accommodating the water soluble
cleanser and of an upper part open at its upper end adjoining
the lower part. The known container has a lateral bore
immediately aboue the maximum filling level of the cleanser.
For practical application, the known automatic toilet
cleaner may be placed in the cistern of a toilet. Under the
effect of its low center of gravity/ the toilet cleaner
automatically rights itself during immersion so that its
Z~0~
opening faces upwards and is slowly filled with water through
the lateral bore so that it sinks ~o the bottom of the water
tank. The water in the container dissolves the cleanser for
forming an active-substance concentrate in the container.
During emptying of the water, the concentrate is intended to be
dispensed into the remaining water flowing to the toilet after
the water level in the tank has fallen to below the height of
the container.
In the above-mentioned automatic toilet cleaner disclosed
lo in German DE oS 2,830,965, a circulation can be established
through the upper opening and the lateral opening of the
container even when the water tank is not in use, causing the
water in the water tank to become increasingly concentrated
with active substance before flushing. The consumption of
cleanser is correspondingly high even when the water tank is
not in use.
3.0 Summary of the Invention:
An object of the present invention is to provide an
; automatic toilet cleaner from which active substance
concentrate is only released when the water in the water tank
has been substantially emptied.
The automatic toilet cleaner of the present invention, in
one embodiment includes a container accommodating the toilet
cleanser in its lower part with a lateral outlet opening for
the active-substance concentrate. Also, the upper part of the
container opposite the lower part accommodating the toilet
cleanser includes a float to enable the automatic cleaner as a
20~ 7~
whole to float freely in such a way that the exit of the
lateral opening always remains below the water level of the
filled water tank, safeguarding the lateral opening against
outflow of the active-substance concentrate when the water tank
i~ full.
The present automatic toilet cleaner always floats when
the water tank is full, although the single, lateral opening
of the container basically provided as an exit for the active-
substance concentrate lies below the water surface. By
contrast, a second container opening for filling or emptying
the interior of th~ container, is required at least for venting
or airing, and is always situated above the water surface for
preventing the circulation of water through the container.
In an additional embodiment, another safeguard against
the unwanted escape of the active-substance concentrate from
the lateral opening, includes the lateral opening arranged and
~esigned in such a way that the active-substance concentrate,
which generally has a higher specific gravity than pure water,
is unable to flow out from the lateral opening, due to its
higher density, before the release of active substance is
required when the toilet is in use.
In a first alternative of another embodiment of the
invention, at least one buoyant element which allows the
container to float substantially upright is provided as the
float on a free-floating automatic toilet cleaner. In a second
alternative embodiment, an air chamber in the container which
allows the container to float substantially upright may also be
provided as the float. In this embodiment, the container
~0~x~
comprises a vent tube which dips downward at its upper end, but
terminates above the level of the lateral opening, and is
otherwise closed in use apart from the vent and the lateral
opening. Such a container filled with toilet cleanser
according to the first or second alternative can be placed in
the water tank without its being tied or hung up. In the
first alternative, the floating depth is determined by the
choice of the buoyant element, and in the second alternative,
by the length of the vent tube projecting into the interior of
the contalner and the resulting size of the air chamber formed.
Through this floating depth, the container is filled with water
through the lateral opening, which provides for the release of
active substance. Accordingly, the automatic toilet cleaner of
the first or second alternative has two openings; namely, the
lateral opening and the upper (vent) opening. The latter can
never dip into the water, and although water is able to
penetrate into the container through the lateral opening, it is
unable to flow out because of the lack of any possibility of
circulation.
A further improvement in the first or second alternative,
and another embodiment of the invention, is obtained if the
lateral opening is formed in a shoulder provided transversely
of the vertical longitudinal axis of the container, so that the
normal of the lateral opening runs substantially parallel to
the longitudinal axis. This arrangement of the water inflow
and concentrate outflow opening parallel to the longitudinal
axis causes the active-substance concentrate dissolved in the
container to be held in or even pressed into the interior of
~0~ ~ ~ 7 ~
the container in the floating position of the toilet cleaner.
Due to its relatively high specific gravity, the active-
substance concentrate is unable to flow out from the opening
which is directed upwards in another embodiment of the
invention. When the toilet is flushed and the water drains,
the automatic cleaner sinks to the bottom of the water tank and
is emptied on the physical principle of communicatiny tubes.
In one embodiment, a substantially cylindrical shape is
provided for the container of the present automatic toilet
cleaner. In another embodiment of the invention, however,
increased resistance to the force of the outflowing water and
better circulation around the active substance are obtained if
the container has a substantially conical wall with a
downwardly increasing diameter. In addition, if it is
cylindrical or conical, it is advantagPous for the container to
be closed at its lower end by a cover having a conical wall or
side with a downwardly decreasing diameter. The side of the
cover is conically tapered downward to reduce the danger of the
present automatic toilet cleaner becoming entangled with the
rods in the water tank.
In a third alternative embodiment of the automatic toilet
cleaner according to the invention, at least one buoyant
element which tilts the container towards the lateral opening
during floating is provided as the float. A siphon with an
upwardly directed elbow or apex and a downwardly directed
outlet or inlet is integrally formed on the outside of the
lateral op~ning, and laterally of the apex. The siphon
comprises an air chamber with an air pocket which closes the
2(3~7~
apex on floating and tilting of the container. The container,
when filled with toilet cleanser is placed in the water tank,
and does not have to be tied or hung up. The floating depth is
determined by the float. At the intended floating depth, the
container is filled with water through the siphon outlet. It
is only this inflow of water into the contain~r which dissolves
the solid active substance. Since, according to the invention,
the siphon is closed by an air pocket when the container is
tilted by floating, any communication between the interior of
the container enriched with active substance and the pure water
remaining outside is eliminated.
In the third alternative embodiment of the automatic
toilet cleaner described above, it is important that,
regardless of the level to which it is filled with remaining
cleanser, the container should always sink in the water of the
water tank to such a depth that the siphon is always completely
below the water level. Accordingly, the buoyant elements and
their dimensions are selected so that the container assumes an
inclined position on floating. The buoyant element 15) are
preferably designed and arranged to tilt the floating container
at an angle of about 45. In this inclined position, the
outlet of the siphon is immersed and an opening in the upper
side of the container remains above the water level. According
to the invention, an air pocket in an air chamber adjoining the
siphon moves into the apex of the siphon in the inclined
position of the container. Accordingly, the siphon in this
embodiment is closed by an air pocket and is not a typical
siphon closed by a liquid.
~o~
According to the invention, the desired inclined position
of the floating automatic toilet cleaner in the third
alternative can be achieved by one or more buoyant elements on
or inside the container. As in the first two alternatives
mentioned, the buoyant elements may consist, for example, of
cork, styropor or the like. A defined inclined position is
readily achieved by providing a relatively small buoyant
ele~ent on the side of the container above the siphon and a
relatively large buoyant element on the opposite side of the
container.
When the free-floating automatic toilet cleaner according
to the last alternative with an automatic self-sealing siphon
strikes the bottom of the water tank as the water level therein
falls, the geometry and weight distribution are selected so
that the automatic toilet cleaner is self-righting. As a
result, the air pocket is displaced from the siphon elbow into
an air chamber provided laterally thereof, and after the water
level has fallen further, the active-substance concentrate in
the container is able to flow into the remaining emptying
water.
Righting of th~ container when it reaches the bottom of
the water tank is facilitated, and unwanted tilting of the
floating container when most of the relatively heavy active
substance has been used up is prevented, if in its lower part
(particularly in the ti~htly closing cover provided at the
bottom) the container has a specific gravity of more than one.
In all the alternatives, this choice and/or distribution of
material ensures that the automatic toilet cleaner safely
ZQ0~2'7~
assumes the particular vertical or inclined position required
on floating or standing.
In general, it is desirable to allow the flushing water
flowing down into the toilet to run down initially in pure
form, and to take up active substance only near the end of the
cycle emptying the toilet tank. In another embodiment of the
invention, this requirement is also satisfied if the height of
the container and the distance ~etween the lateral opening and
the bottom of the container are selected so that the active-
substance concentrate only flows into the last two to threeliters of the emptying contents of the water tank. The lateral
opening for the outflow of active substance is closed as long
as the water level around the container has not fallen below a
certain level. Accordingly, the various dimensions of the
automatic toilet cleaner according to the invention and,
optionally, even the position of the vent tube are selected so
that the active-substance concentrate is only introduced into
the last two to three liters of the contents of the water tank.
In yet another embodiment of the invention, the size
and/or arrangement of the lateral opening of the container are
designed for the controlled release of perfume. This solution
applies above all to that alternative of the automatic toilet
cleaner according to the invention in which no siphon is
attached to the lateral opening. If the normal of the lateral
opening is designed in a certain way at an angle of 0 to 90 to
the longitudinal axis of the container, perfume can be released
in doses detarmined in advance to range between strong and
very weak concentrations.
;~0~79
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
Examples of preferred embodiments of the invention are
described in detail below with reference to the accompa~ying
drawings, in which like ite~s have the same reference
designation, wherein:
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through an automatic
toilet cleaner with a float in the form of an air chamber of
one embodiment of the invention.
Figure 2 is a cross-section on the line II II of Figure
10 1.
Figure 3 shows the same automatic toilet cleaner as
Figure 1, but with a conical container of another embodiment of
the invention.
Figure 4 is a longitudinal section through a free-
floating automatic toilet cleaner with an automatic siphon ofyet another embodiment of the inventionO
Figure 5 is a section on the line V-V of Figure 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The automatic toilet cleaner shown in Figures l and 2 has
ZO a lateral opening 1 in a container globally denoted by the
reference 2, which in its lower part 3 accommodates a solid,
but water-soluble toilet cleanser 4. The lateral opening l of
the container 2 is situated above the maximum level 5 of the
toilet cleanser 4. In addition, the lateral opening 1 sarves
both as an exit for the active-substance concentrate formed
during dissolution of the toilet cleanser 4, when the water
2~g~uf~
tank (not shown) empties, and as an entrance for the pure water
which rises again during refilling of the water tank. The
upper part 6 of the container 2, located immediately above and
opposite the lower part 3 accommodating the toilet cleanser 4,
comprises a float designed for free floating of the automatic
toilet cleaner globally denoted by the reference 7, with the
exit of the lateral opening 1 kept permanently below the water
surface 8 of the filled wat~r tank. In the embodiment
illustrated in Figure 1, the float is formed by an air chamber
10 9.
In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, a vent tube
10 projects downward into the air chamber 9 of the upper part 6
of the container 2. The vent tube 10 terminates above the
level 11 of the lateral opening 1. It is pushed far enough
into the upper part 6 to insure that at least the upper opening
12 of the vent tube 10 always projects from the surrounding
water surface when the automatic toilet cleaner is afloat. In
addition, the lateral opening l is formed in a shoulder 14
provided transversely of the longitudinal axis 13 of the
container 2, with the normal 15 of the lateral opening 1
exten~ing substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 13.
In the embodiment shown in Figures l and 2, the entire
upper part of the container 2 is closed apart from a bushing 16
for the vent tube 10. Accordingly, to refill or introduce the
cleanser 4, a cover 17 is best provided at the lower end of the
lower part 3, as shown. To guarantee a permanently upright
position of the container 2 with a substantially vertical
longitudinal axis 13, the cover 17 may be made of a material of
20~ 7~
relatively high specific gravity to ensure the container 2
remains upright even when the cleanser 4 is substantially
exhausted.
Figure 3 shows a modified embodiment of an automatic
toilet cleaner in relation to Figure 1, although the same parts
bear the same reference numerals. Whereas Figure 1 shows an
automatic toilet cleaner 7 with a substantially cylindrical
wall of the container 2, the container 2 shown in Figure 3 is
conical in shape, even in its lower part 3a, with a downwardly
increasing diameter. This shape provides for both increased
resistance to the force of the outflowing water when the
container 2 sinks to the botto~ of the water tank, and for the
improved circulation of water around the active substance.
Figure 3 also shows an embodiment of a conical cover 17a
of which the diameter, measured perpendicularly to the
longitudinal axis 13, decreases downward. Through its shape,
the cover 17a which is counterconical in relation to a conical
container 2, reduces the danger of entanglement with the rods
in the water tank.
Another example of an embodiment of the automatic toilet
cleaner according to the invention is described with reference
to Figures 4 and 5. The container 2 shown in Figures 4 and 5
comprises two buoyant elements 18 and 19 of different size as
floats. A siphon globally denoted by the reference 20 includes
an upwardly directed elbow or apex 21, and a downwardly
directed inlet or outlet 22 integrally formed on the outside of
the lateral opening 1 of the container 2. The siphon 20
comprises, laterally of the apex 21, an air chamber 23 for
11
~0~2~9
providing an air pocXet which is intended to close the apex 21
during floating or tilting of the container 2. This function
is provided by making the buoyant element 18 opposite the
siphon 20 considerably larger than the buoyant element 19
adjacent the siphon 20. Accordingly, when the associated
container 2 floats, it tilts in the direction of the arrow 24
so that (for example, in a tilted position turned through about
45 relative to the vertical longitudinal axis 13) it is no
longer the air chamber 23 but the apex 21 which contains the
highest point of the siphon 20. The air pocket originally
present in the air chamber 23 therefore moves into the region
of the apex 21 and closes the siphon 20.
